One suggestion leads to the creation of a whole new world of comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
In celebration of Durham Pride weekend, LGBTQIA+-identifying and ally attendees are invited to participate in a free improv comedy jam.
UNC's newest improv team, assembled from UNC’s ENGL 259 class, will perform monologues and scenes based on your suggestions and is guaranteed to delight you.
Admission is free!
This show explores the joy of embracing all parts of your identity while navigating the pain of not feeling seen.
Buy tickets.
This high-energy showcase features students from Mettlesome Instructor Matthew Schmitz’s Advanced Study Musical Improv class! They’ll perform a fully improvised musical comedy, making up scenes and songs on the spot with live accompaniment.
Tickets at the door: $7
It’s Durham Pride Weekend! A cast of improvisers will bring your suggestions to life for a hilariously good time. (Don’t worry, we’ll never pull you on stage unless you want to be there.)
Tickets: $8 at the door
A Mettlesome all-queer cast takes the stage to turn personal, real-life experiences into unscripted comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
In celebration of Durham Pride, Mettlesome's first-ever drag open stage will feature the talents of local drag performers!
Tickets: $9 at the door
One location. A world of comedy.
The cast of Golden Age will showcase a whole world of characters all based on your suggestions.
Tickets: $9 at the door
This showcase is the culmination of a seven-week sketch comedy deep dive from Daniel Duncan’s and Kara Phelps’ Sketch 301: Writing for the Stage class. Come see the graduates show off their comedic sketches!
Tickets at the door: $7
Experience a completely improvised musical comedy show. Watch and listen as the cast of Broken Records makes up songs on the spot with live accompaniment, based on suggestions from you, the audience.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
This class show is the culmination of a six-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructors Ross White’s and Kevin Delgado’s Improv 101: Intro to Improv class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructors April Dudash’s and Jess Bowers’ Improv 201: Game of the Scene class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructors Charles Givens’ and Aditya Pabba’s Improv 201: Game of the Scene class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
It’s an improvised musical for kids!
A made-up story with songs, all inspired by your suggestions.
Fun for ALL ages - no, seriously.
Help us create the world with your drawings and suggestions.
Tickets at the door: $8 per audience member age 15 and under; $5 per adult
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructor John McKinney’s Improv 301: Improv Longform class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
Come ready to this reading series from Durham’s own Bull City Press for engaging poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from established and emerging writers.
Admission: Free!
The talented cast of Show and Tell will weave true stories into comedic gold, live on stage for one night only.
Tickets: $9 at the door
One location. A world of comedy.
The cast of Golden Age will showcase a whole world of characters all based on your suggestions.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Durham favorite GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB brings their epic battles to the Mettlesome stage.
Tickets available via Eventbrite and at the door: $15 regular seating / $30 ringside seating
One suggestion leads to the creation of a whole new world of comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
Everybody who attends will get a chance to perform. Put your name in the bucket and get randomly assigned to a group. Featuring players of all experience levels.
Great for students, beginners, and veterans! Free to attend and participate.
See the talented performers of Mettlesome’s Secret Society perform improv comedy.
Tickets: $7 at the door
Experience a completely improvised musical comedy show. Watch and listen as the cast of Broken Records makes up songs on the spot with live accompaniment, based on suggestions from you, the audience.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
This class show is the culmination of a six-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructor Andrea Howland-Myers’ Improv 101: Intro to Improv class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
The talented cast of Show and Tell will weave true stories into comedic gold, live on stage for one night only.
Plus Lakehouse! Two-time King Shit Cagematch Champions, Lakehouse performs a monoscene that is full of surprises.
Tickets: $9 at the door
See the talented performers of Mettlesome’s Secret Society perform improv comedy.
Tickets: $7 at the door
Bring Your Own Sketch (BYOS) is like an open mic, but for sketch scripts!
Scripts are read in a table-read style. You can bring your own performers to read the script, or cast volunteers from the audience.
BYOS is a great opportunity to show off your scripts, get feedback, or just have fun.
Cost: Free!
It’s a spooky, kooky Mettlesome comedy hour! A different show in hell each night!
Tickets available via Eventbrite and at the door: $9
UPCOMING SHOWS:
Learn about joke structure, writing tools, and elements of performance in this standup comedy workshop.
In this workshop, you will learn a few classic shortform games, what makes them great, and how the skills within translate to longform.
![Improv 201: Game of the Scene [MONDAYS]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d8f6b522482ef0c3d8c948/1789680741678-AJ3FS5UVL6YXWXOGX07S/Jess+201.png)
MONDAYS
Learn the core concepts of longform comedic improv. Students will cover scene-work mechanics and heightening the game of the scene.
![Improv 101: Intro to Improv [MONDAYS]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d8f6b522482ef0c3d8c948/1789680318736-BBR8HEFM9Y5H010BIGDB/Delgado+IMprov+101.png)
![Improv 101: Intro to Improv [TUESDAYS]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d8f6b522482ef0c3d8c948/1790637068161-1PC9NF8BDA5Q6K2ENUE4/Website+Images+-+Classes+and+Workshops-24-Jess+-+Improv+101.png)
TUESDAYS
Create characters and worlds that combine to form a unified 25-minute longform improv piece.
WEDNESDAYS
Step into the world of clown through the lens of physical theatre. Wednesdays.
THURSDAYS
Building on the skills of 301’s game-driven longform, this class introduces students to openings and group games as key components of the Harold structure, a cornerstone improv form.
![Improv 201: Game of the Scene [SATURDAYS]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d8f6b522482ef0c3d8c948/1770218873125-M92L55MY242M9ZQABVYW/Improv+201+-+Charles.png)
SATURDAYS
Learn the core concepts of longform comedic improv. Students will cover scene-work mechanics and heightening the game of the scene.
TUESDAYS
Continued exploration of writing sketch comedy. Learn additional common sketch structures, and workshop sketches weekly.
New classes for Improv and Sketch Comedy will start in early January 2027.
Class registration will open by early December 2026!
Stay posted.
UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS:
Mettlesome strives to make our performances, classes, facilities, and website accessible to all people. If you have questions, need assistance, or require any accommodations, please email us at ops@thisismettlesome.com. In addition, please feel free to approach any staff member during your visit for support. We are here to help.